The Washington critic., 1887-12-03
GAIL HAM1LToN's PLAN.
Women Who Want Work and Women Who
Want Rest to Help One Another
-FsE CRIME OF TWO CITIES.
Copyright, 1851

women perlshing In the country for
want Of rest. Is there not intelligence
enough In this broad land to introduce
the one to the other for the salvation
OF both2
TO secure this beneficial exchange
there must be an organized force.
While we are waiting for this force to
volunteer and organize itself, would
mako use Of force already organized
for purpose not wholly disslmilar, for
purpose certainly not antagouistic; a
force which has been SO long organized
that 1t is well used to working together.
] mean the churches.
The peculiar adaptation of the church
organizations TO the handling Of this
matter is not simply that they are
founded on a principle which includes
the poor and the rich alike; 1t is also
that the church organizations exist al
ready In the city and country alike.
They are just as strongly intrenched In
the habits and traditions of the re.
motest hillside as they are In the
thronged street. So that we start with
an immense advantage In the saving of
time; and to human beings waiting In
the dark, cold pinch Of want, time
must seem eternity.
THE DUTY OF THE CHURCH.
Now, what hinders that the churches Of
New York city Instantly, say tomorrow,
next Sunday-Dr. Halls and DR.. Paxton's
and Heber Newton's and all the rest
gather as usual In their comfortable pews,
warmed and fed and dressed and devout and
tociable as is meet and sing their songs
AID say their prayers according to their
wont, and then, instead OF their usual SER
mon-I know what that will be: 1t will be
an eloquent and logical discourse urging the
peopleto contribute to the American Board,
which 10 q noble and beneflcent object. But
II we may believe New York authority, the
widest interior Of the Dark Continent, msla-
rial junRlee, ferocious savages are nestliDg In
the very heart Of New York. Ia this time
for churches to be discussing with breathless
eagtrness whether there Is any chancs for
the Hindoo after death do not deny
that 1t lisa most interesting and far-reach-
ing topic. diecuss 1t myself with u Nag
cling activity. But
TIE PRESSING QUESTION,
the imperative and not to-be-delayed ques-
tion is whether for these New York cttizeus
there Is any chance before death The very
best way to prove that there is immortal
life 10 to make mortal life worth while. The
poor woman, moiling in the horrible
twilight Of Brooklyn Bridge, where the
tun never comes-wnat can she care for an
eternity Of II? What ahe wants Is little
sunshine now. When, therefore, the hour
for the sermon arrives, what binders that
DR.. Hall and DR.. Psrkhurst and all the
tath In, all h. 81. nI..
Protestant and Catholic, jew and Gentle,
should not lay aside all abstract theological
discussion aud preach gospel Of Poker
flate, Of dismal tenements, over
aloomed by those awful piers of
feeble women not waiting any fu-
lure probation from our Father
which is in Heaven, but damned al.
powers Of civilization. 1t is New York
itself which tells this cruel tale to the shud-
dering country. The great Brooklyn
Bridge, which traffic demanded, springs to
the skies above the beautiful water, but
where iis piers struck out and clamped
themselves to the land It buried men,
women and children in darkness, shut out
sombre through poverty and Ignorance,
shut Into q living tomb hordes Of human
beipge.
THE CRIME OF TWO CITIES.
Tlis was the crime Of civilization, ,wanton
uppardonable. Deliberately, two great ric \
cities, for their own convenience, con-
demned their own brethren, helpless men
b aud women and little children, some
already imbruted with vice, to the further
brutality OF darkness; to the still, cold,
damp, granite twilight. Let this serve for
text. Then let us have o sermon of sta
tikftna-tba nnnntattnn fba tina
churches Of New York city. Politics knows
its owp; why should not ecce hasticism
Politics divides New York city into district
and wards and whatever minute subdivision:
may be necessary, and somebody knows
how everybody is going to vote. Ecclesi
asticism can ramify just as miuutely
Each can know just how large territory
to her Jurisdiction. Then order to the
front all the men and women for all the
hours that they can spare from the imperi
Gus business OF the day, and you have
strong working force at once. Some hourl
can be taken from business II necessary
some from theatre and opera, a good many
from the newspaper, for one can keep wei
time by reading only the head lines, and II
with ali theee, there are not enough TO dC
all the work, still let them begin and d.
what they can.
uELP FROM THE COUNTRY.
1t is easy, or, II not easy, 1t is AZ leas
practicable, to have the country towns a's'
appealed to In q systematic, or even in al
irregular way. "The Pastor Of the Church
at Stoneham, ut Waterbury Four Corners
at Montserrat, at Agawain, can be ad
dressed II his name be not known. Tn
knowledge Of such a scheme would b
quickly spread abroad. Many countr,
pastor would describe II from his pulpi
and enlist both the scllshues
and the unselfshness OF his people. In th
country there would be needed no commit
to tho minister's house on Monday, or cvel
walt Sunday afternoon and talk It over witt
him, and he would make out his li't OF one
Two or dozen names and forward IL to th
city pastor.
HOW 1T WOULD WORK.
Mrs. A. will take cook and wal or an
pay the former three dollars week, tn
latter two dollars week, II they understan
their business. She has been employisg & bu
one servant at three and half aud fou
dollars II they do not understand cookin
and waiting, she will take two well -dlspose
women aud keep them for three month
without puy and teach them, II they Will d
as well as they can.
Mrs Is has q husband and four childrel
he will take one woman at q dollar wee
to begin with, aud two dollars as soon q
she can earn 1t, Mrs. Is. having no hel
now. Mre q. has no servant, and does M
feel that she can afford one, but will Civ
good woman her board for washing dishe:
cleaning lamps and sweeping, aud let he
got what work she can IN the ueighborhood
Nlrs. ID. does not hire servant, but Will IL
decent woman with a family have u smal
nNt L.. .tfIf faN. al.
owns, and pay for the rent In washing
and II the woman will work NJ ten cents a
bpur che can get plenty Of work in th
neighborhood. Mrs. l. has been accu'
toned to hiring one servant through tn
summer months at 50 a week. She viii tax